MCP members demand convention – report

Members of opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) from central region district of Nkhotakota have demanded the holding of party national convention to elect a presidential candidate in order to have enough time to hawk the torch bearer for the 2014 elections.

According to Zodiak Broadcasting Service report, MCP convened a meeting for its district, regional and constituency members at Linga in NKhotakota to map the party’s district political strategy over the weekend.

“Members also argued that an early convention would help settle some of the rambling within the party that has seen the Secretary General Chris Daza being fired by the party,” the radio reported.

Daza (L) main challenger of Tembo for MCP leadership

But party’s Director of Political Affairs, who is also Member of Parliament for Salima North, Kamphatengo Yona, was quoted saying MCP constitution stipulates that a convention be held every five years.

MCP has been facing leadership wrangle since the party lost the 2009 elections.

A group of MCP Young Turks was formed to wrestle power from its president and veteran politician John Tembo.

Recently, the party also expelled its secretary general Chris Daza for rolling a campaign for the presidency thereby undermining the leadership of Tembo. The court ordered that he be reinstated.

Daza stressed that the 78-year-old veteran politician is barred by the party constitution to contest for the presidency under the MCP ticket for the consecutive third time.

“The constitution does not allow him to run. The constitution of Malawi Congress Party is very clear in black and white. It only allows you to contest for two terms,” said Daza